The excavation area is situated on the south-western slope of Monte Duello, in the municipality of Montecchia di Crosara, in Via Casarotti, at about 109 m a.s.l. The area was surveyed prior to the beginning of excavations. The research programmed for 2010 was undertaken using stratigraphical methodologies in order to trace the important Bartonian (middle to upper Eocene) deposit of marine molluscs and mammals, already known at the end of the 18th century. In fact, the geology and paleontology of Roncà has been studied by numerous scholars. The paleontological excavations proper were preceded by a series of small test pits within the area already identified in the previous year, in order to locate with greater precision the historic fossil-bearing horizon. The first excavation campaign took place between the 23rd and 28th August 2010 over an area of about 15 x 3 m. It was divided into area A (situated uphill from the farm road) and area B (below the road). Five layers distinguished by variations in the lithology and fossil content were identified, described below from the top downwards: Layer -1: 10 cm thick (7 cm in area B); Layer 0: 26 cm thick (55 cm in area B). Micritic yellowish limestone with high percentage of biocasts, _foraminifera_, bivalves and gastropods; Layer 1: 58 cm thick. Yellowish marly limestone locally finely laminated containing bivalves, gastropods and large nummulites. Limestone with a high fossil content; Layer 2: 42 cm thick. Yellowish micritic limestone with bioclasts immersed in the matrix. _Foraminifera_ and echinids present. Characteristic small (centimetric) limonite nodules; Layer 3: 80 cm thick. White/greyish/yellowish micritic limestone, nodular with small bioclasts. Presence of nummulites, small corals, bivalves and sub-rounded centimetric clasts. Some of these clasts were clayified and reddish-brown and wine coloured; Layer 4: 50 cm thick. White/greyish/yellowish micritic limestone with bioclasts, with nummulites. Layer 4 contained more fossils than layer 3. It is characterised by surfaces rich in fossils, some of large dimensions ( _Velates_ and bivalves with shell and internal model, corals). Only hand-tools were used for the excavation (hammers, wedges, chisels, shovels, picks etc). Rock samples were taken for thin-sectioning. From the preliminary analysis of the paleontological evidence it is clear that almost the entirety of the finds are molluscs (gastropods and bivalves) and _Foraminiferia_ ( _Nummulites brongniarti_ ). Two shark’s teeth, a number of dental plaques (?) plant remains, echinoderms, crustaceans, corals ( _Trochocyatus sinuosus_?) and probable bones of _Prototherium_ were also recovered. As regards the molluscs in particular the following genera were identified: _Corbis, Ostrea, Cardita, Chama, Cyrena, Lucina, Velates, Calliostoma, Campanile, Xenophora, Terebellum, Pustularia, Ampullina, Athleta_? All fossil remains were taken to the Paleontological Museum of Roncà. Overall the excavation at Monte Duello recovered 316 paleontological finds.

This campaign continued excavations in area B, opened in 2010, and in two new areas (C and D), situated a few metres to the south. The palaeontological excavations covered a front of about 12 m to a maximum height of circa 4 m. The most important work took place in areas A and C. Initially, the various layers to be numbered were identified in area A (which continued that of 2010). Following evaluation, layer 0 in area C was identified. The position of the layers present in area C is: direction of dip 214° - slope 7°. In area A, numerous layers were identified and exposed, distinguished by lithological variations and fossil content. These are described below, from bottom to top, linking back to the description given for the 2010 excavations: Layer 1 – Massive fossil-bearing nodular limestone, yellowish-white in colour. Thickness 48.0 cm; Layer 0 – Yellowish marl with abundant nummulites, bivalves and gastropods. Average thickness 15.0 cm; Layer -1 – Whitish massive limestone, containing foraminifers, echinoderm spines and small gastropods. Thickness 26.0 cm; Layer -2 – Yellowish marly interbedded layer. Thickness varying between 8.0 and 3.0 cm, on average 3.0 cm; Layer -3 – Massive limestone, similar to layer -1, containing foraminifers, small bivalves and abundant bioclasts (fragments). Thickness 8.0 cm; Layer -4 – Yellowish marl. Thickness 4.0 cm; Layer -5 – Brownish massive limestone containing macro-foraminifers and small bivalves. Thickness 11.0 cm; Layer -6 – Yellowish marl. Thickness 2.0 cm; Layer -7 – Massive limestone, varying in colour from yellow to grayish containing abundant macro-foraminifers, bivalves, gastropods and small sporadic ill-preserved corals. Thickness 25.0 cm. Presence of bioturbation (in lesser number than those in layer -8). The layer contains more fossils than layer -8. At the transition between -7 and -8 localized, discontinuous presence of bioturbation in yellowish marls which increased significantly towards the upper part; Layer -8 – Yellowish massive limestone. Thickness 14.o0 cm. Presence of foraminifers, gastropods, small sporadic corals, abundant bioclasts and abundant bioturbation; Layer -9 – Yellowish marls. Thickness 10.0 cm. Discontinuous layer; Layer -10 – Calcarenite with a few bioclasts and bioturbation. Thickness 11.0 cm; Layer -11 – Yellowish arenite, not very compact. Maximum thickness 10.0cm. In area C, a small test pit was dug (13.0 x 65.0 x 11.50 cm) in order to undertake a palaeo-ecological investigation using the volume method, to check the density of faunal remains present. The excavated material was crushed in order to recover most of the palaeontological content. The crushed rock was placed in two buckets filled with water and then passed through a series of sieves for granulometric analyses. The results of this analysis and that undertaken on area A, layer 4, are being processed. Rock samples were taken from the various layers. A preliminary analysis of the faunal content showed that almost all finds were molluscs or foraminifers. Subsequently, a number of shark teeth, vegetal remains, echinoderms, crustaceans etc were recovered. Overall, 480 palaeontological finds were recovered from the excavation at Monte Duello.

The excavation area lies on the south-western slope of Monte Duello, in via Casarotti, Montecchia di Crosara, at about 109 m a.s.l. This season’s excavations aimed to trace the important Bartonian (middle-upper Eocene period) deposit of molluscs and marine mammals, known since the end of the 18th century, and to correlate the stratigraphic data from preceding excavations. The excavations took place along a front that was ca. 6m wide overall and a maximum of ca. 1.5 m high in correspondence with Excavation A and a linking trench was dug between Excavation A and Excavations D and E. The actual paleontological excavations were carried out in correspondence with excavation area A, while about twenty samples of marl sediments were collected from the link trench and all the fossils that came to light during the digging of this trench were recovered. Before the paleontological excavation, the various outcropping layers in Area A were identified and marked according to the numbering system used in previous years. The work mainly involved layers 1, 2, 3 and 4. Numerous gastropods and bivalves were found within this stratigraphic sequence. The excavations in “D” and “E” produced a modest number of well-preserved echidna remains. Rock samples were taken from the various layers. A preliminary analysis of the paleontological remains showed that almost all the finds were molluscs (gastropods and bivalves) and Foraminifers (Nummulites brongniarti). All of the fossils are housed in the storeroom of the Roncà Paleolontological Museum. During 2013, the study continued of the sponge spicules found in Excavation C at Monte Duello during the 2011 and 2012 campaigns.

The paleontological excavations took place on a front about 4 m wide and with a maximum height of about 1.5 m in correspondence with excavation A and two trenches, denominated F and G, dug on higher ground compared to earlier areas A, B, C, D and E. Prior to beginning the paleontological excavation various outcropping layers in area A were identified, that were renumbered according to the system of the preceding years. The work mainly involved layer 1. Numerous gastropods and bivalves, including a cowry shell were recovered from the stratigraphy. During 2014, the observation of the sponge spicules found in excavations F and G on Monte Duello continued.

The research programmed for 2015 was substantially reduced due to the lack of funding. For this reason, only one _sondage_ was opened in a peripheral area south-east of the preceding palaeontological excavations. Prior to the excavation, a survey was carried out to identify the area for the trench, with the aim of finding other outcrops of the Bartonian (middle-upper Eocene) period that were later, and in stratigraphic sequence with the spiculite that terminated the sequence excavated in 2014. The _sondage_ was positioned at a point where Eocenic calcareous detritus was present on the surface. The excavation of _sondage_ S1 exposed the following stratigraphy: From the ground surface to -0.40 m, hazelnut coloured silty agricultural soil with calcareous clasts measuring from a centimetre to tens of centimetres; from -0.40 m to -0.65 m light brown silty soil, slightly clayey with calcareous clasts measuring from a centimetre to tens of centimetres; from -0.65 m compact, pinkish hazelnut coloured volcanoclastic rock. Given the negative results from _sondage_ S1, it was decided to open another one (S2) close by but at a slightly higher level. The excavation was halted for technical reasons before reaching the rocky substratum. The following stratigraphy was recorded: from the ground surface to -0.45 m hazelnut coloured silty agricultural soil with calcareous clasts measuring from a centimetre to tens of centimetres; from -0.45 m to -0.85 m light brown silty soil, slightly clayey with calcareous clasts measuring from a centimetre to tens of centimetres. No palaeontological finds, not even fragments, were recovered from the excavations.

This was the seventh campaign of excavations on the site of Monte Duello. The work concentrated on a front c. 4 m wide with a maximum height of c. 1.5 m in correspondence with ‘scavo A’. In addition, a small trench was opened in the area of the rocky outcrop containing sponge fossils (‘scavo E’). Prior to the start of the excavations cleaning was undertaken in the area of ‘scavo A’, with the removal of soil and other surface detritus present on the rock face in addition to the partial removal of the detritus previously left to cover the fossil-bearing layers. A small mechanical digger was used to remove the detritus and a trench was opened to link ‘scavo A’ with the trench positioned downhill. The excavations intercepted a layer with volcaniclastic rocks. It was established that the calcareous layers above rested directly on altered volcanic rocks that are greenish in colour with light-brown and yellowish variegation. This is probably a non-stratigraphic contact, suggesting that the limestones slipped onto the volcanic rocks. This allowed a sub-horizontal shift of the limestone rock mass, which fractured parallely at the face. The preliminary analysis of the palaentological material made it clear that almost all of the finds were Molluscs (gastropods and bivalves) and Foraminifers (_Nummulites_ _brongniarti_). Fish and echidna teeth were also found. Rock samples were taken for study.

This was the 8th excavation campaign on the site of Monte Duello. The work involved various limestone surface outcrops of a few square metres, all situated at the same level, and a number of small trenches uphill and downhill from the latter. Before the excavations began, the area was cleaned, with the removal of surface soil and detritus present on the slope and in correspondence with the limestone outcrops. The various rock layers were identified and rock samples taken. Rock samples were also taken during the excavations, representative of the various outcrops that had been quarried. A preliminary analysis of the paleontological remains showed that almost all the finds were molluscs (gastropods and bivalves) and Foraminifers (_Nummulites_ _brongniarti_). The remains of scaphopoda, anthozoa, and echinoidea were also found.